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Alliance Ministry Offers Hope, Healing to Japan Earthquake Survivors

For many survivors, the true psychological impact of the disaster will be felt for years to come.

Much progress has been made in post-disaster recovery since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the city of Ishinomaki in northeastern Japan. Rubble has been cleared, homes rebuilt, and roads and bridges repaired. Yet for many survivors, deep psychological and emotional scars remain.

Dr. Magda Osman, psychology lecturer at Queen Mary, University of London, said that while the disaster had a devastating, immediate effect on the people of Japan, the true psychological impact will be felt “for some time to come.”

For many survivors, deep psychological and emotional scars remain.

To address this inner turmoil in Ishinomaki, the New Life Center (NLC), an Alliance outreach, developed the My 3/11 Project, which focuses on “heart care.” A workshop was presented last November to launch the program, which invites survivors to share their stories during recorded interviews.

According to counselor Martin V. Cohen, PhD, an essential step to healing from a catastrophic experience is communication. “Talk about your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to the events with people you trust,” he tells patients. “Then, talk about it some more.”

Through the My 3/11 Project, earthquake survivors in need of healing have been able to do just that. Also, “by listening to and recording people’s accounts of their experience on March 11, our team is able to connect with our neighbors at a heart level,” said Jill and Alan Kropp, Alliance international workers and NLC team leaders.

“As they share their stories and as we listen empathetically, following the recording session with conversation and prayer, we are seeking to bring Christ’s loving presence into their pain.” God has provided part-time editing staff to help produce quality recordings for those willing to take this first step toward inner healing.

Thus far, NLC team member Kathy Young, an Alliance international worker, has recorded the stories of three women. “Please pray that God will give us wisdom as we continue to develop this ministry and that through it, we will see many people begin their journey with Christ,” Jill and Alan asked.

Christian counseling is available from Takako Watanabe, a Japanese believer and licensed professional counselor, under the auspices of the NLC. In mid-January, a mother and her two adult daughters were the first to receive family counseling from Dr. Watanabe. They had been affected by the March 11 disaster but were seeking help in resolving long-term personal and family issues.

“Pray that God will use Takako to clearly communicate the saving, healing power of Jesus Christ and that individual lives and families will be transformed through this ministry,” said the Kropps.

—Based on an update by Alliance international workers Jill and Alan Kropp, who serve in Ishinomaki, Japan

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